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Vice Chair raises Sunshine Law concerns over 'Coffee With Candidates' event
Summary
Vice Chair Arthur Rhodes asked the board to investigate an HPCA‑organized Oct. 9 candidate coffee, arguing the event and attached candidate bios risk violating the Florida Sunshine Law; the board directed the District Manager to review and requested a legal opinion from District Counsel.
Arthur Rhodes, Vice Chair of the Heritage Pines Community Development District, urged the board to examine the relationship between the HPCA and the CDD after candidate bios and an Oct. 9 "Coffee With Candidates" event were circulated to residents.
Rhodes told the board that Kim Norton had circulated a letter on Aug. 6 scheduling the event and that resumes and bios for Mr. Steele, Mr. Putman and Mr. Kleeman were attached. He said the materials and the fact that the event appears to include only some candidates "raise serious problems in the relationship between the HPCA and the CDD." Rhodes noted that, by CDD records, Mr. Kleeman attended only one of six FY2024 meetings while Mr. Steele and Mr. Putman attended none.
Herb Hurley, HPCA General Manager, said the candidates had asked for the event so they could "become known as candidates for the CDD Board," and that board members were advised they could not attend because of the Sunshine Law. Resident Joyce Welsh had earlier requested that meetings be recorded.
On a motion by Mr. Rhodes, seconded by Carol Vaughan, the board unanimously directed District Manager Chuck Adams to review the implication of outside candidates and allegations of a hostile relationship, and directed District Counsel to provide a legal opinion. Adams said he will also ask District Counsel to prepare a memorandum and instructed board members not to reply to the related email. The district scheduled no immediate changes to the event pending counsel guidance.
